Luggage carrier



March 16 1926. 1,577,386

I P. M. TRAVIS v LUGAGE @ARMEE Filed Jun@ 1G4 1925 2 Sheew-Sheot 1 March 10,1926. Y Y 1,511,386

. P. M. TRAVIS v LUGGAGE CARRIER l A Filed June 16, 1925 2 ShetsjSheet 2 Y 3mm/toi 5 l /'x PorterM-TraviS Patented Mer, 16,

nennst erreur ori-ica roeren M. TRAVIS, or SHERMAN, TEXAS.

LUGGAGE CARRIER.

Application iled June 16, 1925. Serial No. 37,448.

To all whom t may oon-cera Be it known that I, Poirriin M. Travis, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Sherman, in the county of Grayson and State of rllenas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luggage Carriers, of which the following is a specification. I

My said invention relates to luggage carriers for automobiles and it is an object of the invention to provide a receptacle which will fit snugly upon the ruiming board and having means for fastening the same in position thereon, the same being so constructed as not to interfere with parts of the automobile to which access is essential suoli as for .example the doors and hood.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character in which different articles of unlike character, as for example provisions, bedding` and luggage of various descriptions, may be stored and securely protected from the elements as well as each protected from the other.

Another object of the invention is to p'rovide a device of the above character with means for fastening the same securely in position so as not to mar thelpaint or otherwise injure the automobile; to prevent rattling or vibration and to evenly distribute the load, thus insuring proper balance and consequent safety and ease of riding.

A still further object is to provide a device of the above character which may be unfolded and the trays removed to serve as a dressing cabinet, cooking table and the like. i

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure l is a perspective of an automobile showing my device applied'thereto,

Figure 2, a perspective of the partially open carrier designed for the left-hand side of tlievehicle, Y l

Figure 3, a detail front plan view with the fenders removed showing the applica# tion of right and left hand carriers,

Figure 4, a detail of the connection at one end of `the connecting strap or rod shown i the upper portion of Figure 3, and

Figure 5, a perspective of removable trays for use in the forward upright portion 0f the right-hand carrier,

h rlie invention comprises a right-hand carrier 10 and a left-hand carrier 11 adapted to be secured respectively at the right and left sides of an automobile 12 tothe ruiming board 12 thereof. The carriers 10 and 1 1- are substantially of identical construction except they open on opposite sides and the left-hand carrier is provided with four trays or drawers 13 and the right-hand carrier is provided with only two trays or drawers 111 of larger size.

The carriers 10 and 11 are constructed preferably of sheet metal of suficient weight and thickness to eliminate vibration and to hold the weight of'a person entering or alighting from the automobile. The parts are securely fastened together by riveting, welding, or in any desired manner. rl`he carrier body is of such proportions 'that when fastened in position on the running board the lower horizontally disposed or long narrow part will be substantially the length and width of the running board and will extend upward to a point just beneath the doors when open permitting said doors to freelyopen and close and touching no part of the body of the car as best shown in Figure 1. The forward upright partv of the carrier 15 forms a separate compartment from the lower horizontal compartment having its bottom preferably on a level with the top of the lower compartment and eX- tending upward for a height substantially equal to the height of the cowl of the autinobile. The upper and lower portions of each carrier being preferably provided with lids 27 and 28.

-The upright portion 15 is provided at its rear withan adjustable brace or bracket 16 for Contact with the windshield stanchion 17 and adapt-ed to be held by a set screw 16 and with a second brace or bracket 18 adapt ed to be connected with a similar bracket on the cabinet on the opposite side of the machine by means of a two-part. connecting rod or bar`19 provided with a ti'irnrbuckle 20 for adjustingl the same to the proper tension. 'When used with a closed cara bracket having a fiat end is preferable instead of one having a, cupped end as shown, each of saidl brackets being preferably provided ywith a rubber oi other flexible buffer to prevent injury to the automobile. By this constructionand method of .fastening the weight is Supported equally by the running boards Cil vibration is prevented, the carriers are held away from the car body and the dead weight is lifted from the outer edge of the ruiming board and distributed evenly along the inside of the same 'and 'directly against the frame of the automobile. rIhus any pos sible damage to the chassis or to the engine from pulling an unbalancedioad is pre,- vented. From my experience I have found that an automobile equipped with my device is much easier to control lon wet or rough streets and does not ,swing or skid and provides con'ifortable riding to the occupants.

The upper portion 15 of the cabinet is riveted to the lower portion thereof and is further provided with a plate extending outward beyond its lower edge and upturned at its end 21 for cooperation with a cupped extremity 22 on the lid of the lower portion of the cabinet, said cupped portion preventing the entrance of water or the like into the carrier when in position on the ruiming board of the vehicle. Secured tothe outer edge of the cabinet at the bottom thereof are a plurality of fastening clamps 23 which may be ofthe conventional type having shavped bodies through which are mounted screws with swivel heads adapted to engage the underside of the ruiming board upon which the cabinet is mounted. The lids of the cabinets are provided with depending rims 24C in order to prevent the entrance of water and the like therei'nto and said rims lit snugly over thercabinets and the rim ,of the upper cabinet lid engages the front 25 and holds the s ame in position, said fro-nt is provided with a collapsible ysupport 26 permitting the front of the cabinet to drop to a horizontal position to serve as a table. rIhe lid of the lower cabinet is also provided with a collapsible bracket 26 which serves to hold the same upright.

The interior of the -`cabinetsmay contain shelves or drawers to meet with the individual taste of the person 'using the same, however, I find al desirable c rriangeinent includes av pair of larger drawers 18 in the right carrier and as :shown in Figure 5, while on the other side I Ypreferably provide a greater number `having shown four drawers 14 which may contain smaller articles. rThe trays or drawers 13 are jturned over and inwardly at their upper edges to provide hand grips 30, each of saidtrays `being'independent of the other while 'the trays 14v are contained in a removable case 31 having its upper edges turned inwardly topro yide*simi-ier.grips SO. Y I

It will be l` obvious to v those skilled in the art that my dev-ice maybe modified iin vario-us'ways withoutdeptrtiirg from the spirit of. th :inventionfand vtherefore I do not limit myself to what lisfshown ,in v--tfhe drawings and 4deseribeyl `in the sp'eeiicatioi'i bntonly as indicated in the appended laiiiis,

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I rclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A luggage carrier for automobiles comprising a receptacle for each running board thereof and having a. forward portion extending upward beside the cowl, means for fastening said upright portions together across said cowl comprising a connecting rod for engagement with each of said up= right portions, and means for fastening each of said receptacles toits supporting running board, substantially as set forth.

2. A luggage carrier for automobiles comprising a receptacle for each running board extending along the same and of substantially the same width, each of said receptacles terminating short of the bott-om of the adjacent door of tlievautomobile and eX- tending upward beside the cowl, and means for fastening said upright portions together across said cowl comprising a connecting rod for engagement with each of said upright portions, substantially as set forth.

3. A luggage carrier for automobiles comprising a receptacle having a horizontally disposed portion of substantially the length and breadth of the running board of an automobile and terminating below the bottom of the door thereof, a lid for said portion having a cupped extremity, an upright cabinet mounted jon the forward end of said horizontally disposed portion, a lid for said upright cabinet, fan extension on the under side of lsaid cabinet extending under the lid for the horizontally disposed portion `and having an upturned extremity adapted to fitrinto the cupped extremity of the lid for the horizont-ally disposed portion, lsubstantially as set forth.

4C. Aluggage carrier for automobiles comprising a receptacle -foiieac'eh 'running board thereof and having a forward portion ei;- tending upward beside the cowl, means for fastening said upright portions together across said cowl comprising a connecting rod 'for engagement with each of said upright portions, means for fastening each of said receptacles to its 'supporting running board, and means for holding the upper portion of each of said receptacles spaced from thefadjaoent portion of the automobile, substantially as set forth.

5. A luggage carrier fo-r automobiles comprising a receptacle for each runningboard extending along th'esaine and of 'substantia-lly the same width, each of said receptacles 'terminating short of the bottom of the adjacent door of the automobile and 'extending upward beside the cowl, means for fastening said upright portions together' across said 4cowl comprising 'a connecting rod for engagement vwith each Aof said upright portions, and means forfliol'ding the upper portion of each of said receptaoles spaeed from the adjacent portion of the automobile, 'substantially as set forth.

6. A luggage carrier for automobiles oomprising a receptacle having a horizontally disposed portion of substantially the length and breadth of the running board o'lA an automobile and terminating belouT the bottom of the door thereof, a lid for said portion having a cupped extremity, an upright cabinet mounted on the forward end of said horizontally disposed portion, a lid for 'said upright cabinet, an extension on the under side of said cabinet extending under the lid Yfor the horizontally disposed portion and having an upturned extremity adapted to fit into the cupped extremity of the lid for the horizontally disposed portion, and means for holding the upper portion of each of said receptacles spaced from the adjacent portion of the automobile, substantially as set fort-h.

7. A luggage carrier comprising a iat body of substantial length, a cover for said body, an upright body on one end of 'said flat body and having a portion extending under the cover for said flat portion, a drop front for said upright body, and a plurality of trays in said uprightportion, substantially as set forth.

8. A luggage carrier comprising a. fiat body of substantial length, a cover for said body, an upright body on one end of said flat body and having a portion extending under the cover for said fiat portion, a drop front for 'said upright body, a plurality of trays in said upright portion, and clamps secured on the under side of said flat body for 'securing the same toa ledge, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto 'set my hand and seal at Sherman, Texas, this 12th dayof J une, A. D. nineteen hundred and twenty-live.

PORTER M. TRAVIS. [1.. s] 

